November 2023
Metro United Way Impact Tracker
This impact tracker is updated on a monthly basis to share highlights of the work that we do every day to help make our community better for everyone!
There’s nothing more important than making sure our community’s children have what they need to thrive. LEARN MORE
- We launched our Build-a-Bed program in 2017, to date we have built 741 beds for children who need them. Our next event will take place at Prosser Carrer and Education Center on Saturday, February 10, 2024 and will include seven of the eight public school systems and a projection of 150 additional beds.
- We increased the reach of the Ages and Stages Developmental tool by growing our network and support of pediatric partners. Working closely with Smoketown Family Wellness, Iroquois Family Health Center, Norton NOVAK Center, Norton Broadway, Norton Children’s Germantown, we are building a referral model between MUW and pediatricians so that more parents and caregivers can use this free developmental tool.
- MUW developed a place-based initiative to support quality improvement and resource building for Russell center-based child care providers in partnership with community partners Russell: A Place of Promise (RPoP), Play Cousins Collective, Child Care Aware, and Jefferson County’s child care resource and referral agency, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C). Six Russell providers are currently participating in the initiative, and we have plans to replicate the model in additional target neighborhoods so that our community’s youngest can have access to high quality child care.
- We began planning La Casita’s new natural play space with site visits to Bernheim Forest, Shawnee Park, and child care providers as well as hosted sessions for families and children La Casita serves to provide their input on how the play space should be designed.
- We’ve had many early childhood public policy wins over the past two years through our Ready for K Alliance, which is a collaboration of 100+ individuals and partners that we lead.
- Successfully advocated to improve Louisville’s zoning to make child care more accessible where families live and work.
- Secured passage of a Lead Safe Housing Ordinance in Louisville Metro Council to add protection for children in rental homes.
- Supported the passage of Kentucky’s new Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership (ECCAP), which matches employer benefits for child care tuition costs.
- Secured more than $4.6M to support early care and education projects, from Louisville’s American Rescue Plan funds.
- Ensured strong Ready for K Alliance representation on Mayor Greenberg’s Early Learning Action Group tasked with building high quality early learning opportunities for three- and four-year-olds in Jefferson County.
- Our Youth Success network currently has more than 150 youth-serving organizations which is a 40% increase over last year. 40+ of these organizations are receiving capacity-building supports like technology audits, tutoring help, mental health supports, grant-writing help, training, etc. 37 organizations are receiving investments through a 2-year open Youth Success RFP. 100+ children in the Youth Success Network are benefitting from academic supports and tutoring through partnerships with I Would Rather Be Reading, Bridgeway Tutoring and Bellarmine University.
- We are excited to announce our Youth Social Action Project (YSAP) mini grants RFP. This project is open to all youth-serving organizations in our seven county region. The purpose of this is to engage young people to be active in addressing issues that affect them, their neighborhoods, and communities, building youth voice and civic engagement to demonstrate that they are part of the solution to important community issues. There is virtual orientation scheduled for Tuesday, November 28 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The application will be open from December 4 -15, 2023. More details HERE.
- Scholarships totaling $420,000 will be going out in early 2024 through our new Young Men United program.
When we have strong households, we are creating pathways out of poverty to prosperity, which is a win for us all. LEARN MORE
- Phase I of our homeownership pilot in Southern Indiana with Salvation Army resulted in two families purchasing their very first home, seven total families were pre-approved to purchase a home, five are currently shopping, and approximately 25 families are active in the program leaning about what it takes to be a successful homeowner. These families work with a case worker to identify their current state, recognize barriers, and create solutions that move them towards their dreams of homeownership (high school diploma or GED, increased skills, credit recovery, budgeting, etc. Phase II of this housing work includes a continuation of the homeownership work (case management supports), expansion to support Habitat for Humanity for a rapid housing investment, and bring New Directions to Southern Indiana to expand our work to include home preservation and housing safety.
- We helped launch and sustain a coalition that trains and supports volunteers to provide free income tax assistance for low-to-moderate income families. During tax season 2023, this effort served 7,031 families, securing $9.1 million in tax refunds and saving filers an estimated $1.75 million in tax preparation fees.
- In the past year, we completed an effort known as “AcceLOUrate Savings” that supported 92 individuals in building emergency savings accounts and reaching other goals in areas such as increasing income, credit, and assets and reducing debt. Over a 4-year period, we saw average gains of: $383 in monthly income; $2,049 in savings; $2,417 in debt reduction; and $20,619 in asset accumulation (such as in the value of a car or a home).
- The seven FundBLACKFounders who have launched their crowdfunding campaigns have raised $78,450 to date (not including Metro United Way match dollars of up to $25K for each founder). Learn more about these incredible entrepreneurs HERE
- Our volunteer engagement team facilitates impactful volunteer experiences, strategically convening individual and workplace-based volunteers to meet the immediate basic needs of our neighbors from across our seven-county region. So far this year, we’ve reached 74 nonprofit partners through volunteer-led projects including 14,942 kits with a $115,275 value – AND we aren’t done yet! In addition, we’re currently maintaining support for 33 Little Libraries via books and library maintenance.
- Early impact from our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) financial coaching initiative shows participants are making progress towards their financial goals. So far, four have increased income, 14 have increased savings, five have increased credit scores, and 14 have decreased debt.
- To date, there are 526 partnering organizations on our United Community platform that helps connect cross-sector coordinated care efforts. We recently started convening a Social Needs Think Tank to convene direct service providers. Attendance doubled in one month and the network continues to grow.
New work that is underway includes strategically addressing food insecurities experienced by JCPS students through collaboration with Dare to Care. In the next year, we also hope to reach at least 2000 students by providing hygiene kits and school supplies kits/backpacks. In addition, we’re convening partners in the housing spaces to streamline services to individuals and families experiencing housing insecurities.
We envision the Greater Louisville region as a place where zip code doesn’t determine destiny and everyone has the opportunity to live up to their full potential. LEARN MORE
- Our internal DEI Council has expanded with six new members, enhancing our efforts in shaping and improving our DEI Strategic Plan.
- Our Beyond Buzzwords series this year featured Dr. Ibram X Kendi, Sally Kohn, and Emily Bingham has engaged thousands, fostering meaningful conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our lineup for 2024 is complete with Heather McGee, Ta-nehisi Coates, Alejandra Campoverdi. Register HERE.
- Our 19-member Black L.O.V.E. (Live, Vote, Own, Excel) cohort of black-led nonprofit organizations has provided resources, services, information, and skills necessary for community members to thrive. Investments deployed have supported community members in obtaining crucial resources, services, and information, including more than a dozen impactful events focusing on food security and nutrition.
- Through our United Neighborhoods initiative that helps transform neighborhoods from the inside out, $500,000 invested in the California Neighborhood last year. In the upcoming year, an additional $300k will be invested. Learn more about the efforts so far HERE.
- Equity in entrepreneurship was at the heart of our Tocqueville Tuesday panel discussion this month! Thank you to our pioneering panelists — Renee King of FundBlackFounders, Rebecca Wood of Greater Louisville Inc.- The Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Larry Horn of Amplify Louisville for leading our panel.
